Brutally honest film about the pain one man is willing to inflict in order to at least appear to live a more preferable life.

The film feels very earnest, collected, focused, it's nice and delicate in its formal sobriety, treats its "cynical" antihero with dignity, and address something fundamentally interesting - but it's a bit "stiff", explicit and overbearingly solem at times... But still, good shit.

I love how the ending finds in its Everyman's decision to return to the burdens and responsibilities of everyday life a remarkable, stirring courage and nobility. It's the application of Camus' Myth of Sisyphus to modern capitalist society -- a rare existentialist treat.

i'm typically more inclined to be annoyed with 'good' character traits than 'bad' ones--vincent being a coward isn't really what bothers me, it's the fact that he's a coward who lacks any sort of virtuosity whatsoever. so maybe i'm at odds with a lack of character? in short, he can be sort of a maddening bore, which is too bad since it's a very engaging story synopsis, and in respect to form, interesting to look at. still pretty good i guess, but surprisingly forgettable.